32 h. ago Pat Cummins ready to ‘take a few risks’ with rehab to be fit for first Ashes Test

Australia captain to miss white-ball series against IndiaStarc retires from T20Is as squad named for New ZealandPat Cummins is prepared to “take a few risks” and be “aggressive” in his recovery from a back injury to lead Australia in this winter’s Ashes series.Australia’s captain will be absent for their forthcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India because of lumbar bone stress, a common injury among fast bowlers with intense workloads. Cummins remains upbeat about being able to take to the field in the first Test against England, starting on 21 November in Perth, and he says he will do everything in his remit to avoid missing out. “That would be devastating [to be sidelined for the series opener], so we’ll be doing everything we can to try to be right for that,” Cummins said in Brisbane on Wednesday. “It’s a big Ashes series. It doesn’t get much bigger, so I think you’re willing to take a few risks and be a little bit aggressive to try and play as many Tests as you c...

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35 h. ago Australia captain Pat Cummins ‘doing everything’ to be fit for Ashes opener

Cummins has been ruled out of upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India after scans revealed signs of lumbar bone stress in his back

Politics

62 h. ago Australia captain Pat Cummins facing race to be fit for Ashes after injury set

Australia are confident Cummins will be ready for the series-opener in Perth despite a worrying back issue

Events

7 d. ago Red Roses given double Women’s World Cup injury boost as England ring changes for Samoa

The Red Roses opened their tournament with a 69-7 thrashing of the United States in Sunderland

Events

2 w. ago England given injury boost as former captain Heather Knight named in Women’s World Cup squad

Knight has not played since damaging her hamstring in May but takes her place in a 15-strong squad for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka.

Events

2 w. ago England’s Shoaib Bashir unfazed by Nathan Lyon’s opinion ahead of Ashes series

The spinner is currently recovering from surgery on a finger.

Politics

2 w. ago Shoaib Bashir gives England boost for Ashes with injury update

Bashir went down attempting to take a catch off his own bowling in England’s third Test against India at Lord’s last month

Events

4 w. ago Voices: How the cut in interest rates might come back and bite us all

The flagging UK economy will get a badly needed boost from the Bank of England’s third rate cut of the year – but, says James Moore, given an unexpected jump in inflation, there could now be several unintended consequences

Politics

4 w. ago Bank of England slashes interest rates to 4% amid sluggish UK economy

For the first time in the Bank's history, policymakers had to vote twice on how fast to slash borrowing costs amid a three-way deadlock.

Economics

4 w. ago Interest rates live: Boost for mortgage holders as Bank of England cuts rate for third time this year

Monetary Policy Committee members have voted on a cut down to 4 per cent which will hamper savings but boost the mortgage market

Economics

4 w. ago Bank of England cuts interest rates to 4% in bid to boost sluggish UK economy

The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) reduced the base rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4 per cent at lunchtime.

Economics

4 w. ago Interest rates cut UK: Bank of England slash rates from 4.25% to 4% in home mortgage holder boost

The latest decision on interest rates has been announced by the Bank of England.

Economics

4 w. ago Bank of England set to cut interest rates TODAY in bid to boost sluggish UK economy

Experts think the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will reduce the base rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4 per cent at lunchtime.

Economics

last month Next up, the Ashes – and England will need Ben Stokes at his all

England’s batting lineup looks settled for the trip to Australia, but their fast-bowling stocks were stretched against India and the captain can help ease the burdenThe England-India epic that ended up like two weary prizefighters trading blows will live long in the memory – a 2‑2 classic for which the players on both sides deserve immense credit. Not that Mohammed Siraj, still hitting 90mph on the speed gun on the 25th day, showed weariness. If anything, he could well hold the key to solving the world’s energy problems.Plaudits in particular go to three men who stepped up bravely when other sports would have simply subbed them off: Shoaib Bashir bowled with a broken left hand at Lord’s; Rishabh Pant batted with a broken foot at Old Trafford; and then Chris Woakes, Horatio Nelson armed with a Gray-Nicolls, followed him in folklore at the Oval. Don’t be fooled by the white flannels and the stoppages for tea – Test cricket is a brutal sport. Continue reading...

Politics